Locking mechanism for boxes, cases, or trunks.



J. T. BINKLEY.

LOOKING MECHANISM FOR BOXES, UA$ES, 0R TRUNKS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1914.

1, 1 32,824. Patented Mar. 23, 191.5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I 1 I I I I 4 v I I I l l i I I J. T. BINKLBY. LOOKING MECHANISM FOR BOXES, CASES, 0R TRUNKS.

' APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10, 1914. 1,132,824. Patented Mar.23,1915;

2 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

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JOHN T. 'IBINKLEY, or CHICAGO, nanmors. j

rooms nncnamsm o a ll 'wlz'om may co ncemip Be it known that I, JOHN T BiNkLEY', a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locking Mechanism for Boxes, Cases, or Trunks, of which the following 18 a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in locking mechanism, and more particularly to locking mechanism for suit cases and the like containers, though it w ll be readily understood from the following description that it may be used in many other situations, it being my desire to protect my invention regardless of the particular connection in which it is used.

My primary object is to provide improved locking means for the purpose stated'which may be readily and conveniently operated and which will serve to securely lock the co er of the container equipped with the locking means.

Referring to the accompanying draw-- ings -Figure 1 is a plan view of a dress-suit case to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 3

and viewed in the direction of thearrow,

this view being on a reduced scale. Fig. 3

is a section taken at the line 3 on Fig.2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig.

4is a section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2

and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

is a'view in elevation of the key of.

Fig. 5 the I particular locklng mechanism shown.

Fig. 6 is a view of the interior of thelock showing the casing in section, this view showing the position assumed by the parts of the lock, when in unlocked position. Fig. '7 is a view. like Fig. 6, showing the position assumed by the parts of the lock when the latter is in locked position: and Fig. 8, an enlarged section takenat the line 8 on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to a suit case, the body-portion of which is represented at 9 and the coversection at 10, my improved locking means being employed for releasablylocking the cover in closed position on the body 9. Secured to the inner surface oftho forwardlyextending flange 11 of the cover 10, as by.

' Specification of Letters Patent. 7

this catch in the construction illustrated FOB BOXES, oasns, on moans;

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

, Application filed June 10,1914. Serial No. 844,160. j

- rivets 12, isa. plate 13, the: lower edge of which extends slightly. below the edge of..55 the flange 11 and is rearwardly bentto pro vide a shouldered-ledge. 14. Cooperating with this shouldered ledge is a catch device carried by the body-portion 9- of the case.

comprising plates 15 and 16, the plates 15 being secured to the inner surface of the body 9 of the case, as by rivets 18, and the plate 16, which. extends upwardly, being hingedly connected therewith, as by a pianohaving an upwardly and rearwardly-deflectf ed section 23, this'plate at its flanged portion 22 being adapted to interlock. with the shouldered portion 14 of. the plate 13, and.

beingnormally drawn to such interlocking.

position by springs 24rigidly secured at' a. position in which the flange 22 will be" moved out of interlockingposition relative I The actuation of the plate 16for disen-1 gaging the flange 22 from the shoulder 14 to to theshoulder 14.

release the cover 11. is effected by means of a push-button27 .which is rotatably mounted in an. opening 28 in a ring 29 secured in the front plate 30 of a casing 31 and in an opening 32 in the rear Wall of this casing,

a flange 33 upon the'button 27 preventing the withdrawal of the latter from the casing 31. The inner end of the button 27 extends closely adjacent to theplate 16 and is connected therewith by a screw 27 passing through an opening 16 in the plate 16' and thus when the button 27 is pushed inwardly, it will swingthe plate 16 to the right in Fig. .3, thus disengaging theshoul- I hinge 17. The plate 16 at. its upper end carries a. forwardly-extending flange 22 vo 75, so

as plate 16-is swung rearwardly on the hinge* 17, and in opposition to the springs 24, to I ders 14 and 22, permitting thecover llto be Jnent, or, in other words, to prevent the plate 16 from being actuatedh in Any suitable means for. locking the button 27 against inward movement maybe provided, those illustrated, and which I fintl to be desirable for my purpose, comprising tumblers 34in the casing 31, pivoted on ain-35 andadapted .to be projected at their ends 36 into interlocking engagement with the shoulder 33' on the button 27 as represeemed in. Fig.7, These tumblersare provided at thei'rends 36 with shoulders 37 at which they are adapted to interlock with the shouldered portion 38 of a catch 39 journaled ona pin 40,'the catch 39 being provided with a finger 41 between which and theshouldered ends of the tumbler 34, a

' double-ended spring 42, carried by a post 43, is:interposed tendingto rotate the tum- I blers 34 on their pivots in an anti-clockwise direction. The finger 34 bears, under the action of the spring 42 against a button 44 'slidablv confined at a restricted portion. 45 thereofin a slot 46 in' thje plate 30. The barrel 2? contains a-key-wa'y 47 for receiving a key so formed, as to engage with the shouldered portionsot the tumblers 34 and "swing, them out of interlocking engagement with the flange 33, as shown in Fig. 7, in

which movement these tumblers ride against z the shouldered end 3801 the catch 39. lift ing the latteragainst the action of the spring 42 and finally interlocking therewith, as illustratedjin Fig. 7 in .which position the slide-button 44 occupies the position in the slot 46 as representedin Fig.8.

IVhen the tumblers 34 are in the position last referred to. the button 27 is free to be pushed inwardly for swinging the plate 16. against the action of the springs 24. out of interlocking engagement at its shoulder with the shoulder 14. assuming that the inter of the case is closed, as represented in i gs. 1 to 4, inclusivethereby unlocking the cover and permitting it to be raised. Assuming that the cover is closed, when it is desired that it be locked against raising, the operator merelv slides the button 44 to the left in Fig. 6, which thus rocks the shoulder 38 of the latch 39 upwardlv, clearing the shoulders 37 on the tumblers 34,

i which thus permits the spring'42 to force the tumblers at their shouldered ends 36 into interlocking posit on relative to the flange 33 on the button'27 (Fig. 7), which prevents the button 27 from being pressed inwardly untilthe proper key has been inserted into a key-way 47 in the button 27 and the key turned to force the tumblers 34 into the positionof interloclnng with'thecatch 39, such a key being represented at 48 and operating at' its lug 49 thereon to 'ride against the tumblers 34 and force them to the position illustrated in Fig. 6;

- While I have illustrated. and described a articular form of my improved mechanism, donotwish to be understood as intending to limit my invention thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention, itbeing my intention to claind my invention asbroadly and as fully as the prior state of the a t will permit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isu 1. The combination with at container formed of sections adaptedto be closedlto gether, of a push-button on one of said sections, a catch on the otherof said sections, a member pivotally supported on said first referred to section and movable in the direc tion of movement of. and by, said push-button, and provided with means for interlock; ing with said catch, and spring means for. normally yieldingly holding said pivoted member in position for interlocking v-with said catch .upon the act of closing said sect'ions together. I 2. The combination with a containerformed of sections adapted to be closed to gether, of a push-button on one of said sec: tions, an inwardly eirtending member on} the other of said sections extending substantially the full length of the latter and forming a catch-surface, and a member-supported on saidfirst-referre'd-to section and movable in the direction 0t movement of, and by, saidpush-bntton, and provided with a forwardlvvprojecting portion extending substantially the fullylength of said firstreterred-to section and ada ted to interlock with said first-named member. s

3. The combination with a container formed of sections adapted to .be closed together, of a push-button on one of said seetions. a catch on the other-of said sections,

locking with said catch. means for releasably locking said push-button against inward movement, and spring means for normallv yieldingly holding saidpivoted member in position for interlocking with said catch upon the act of closing said sections together.

4. The combination with a container formed of sections adapted to be closed together, of a push-button on one of said sections, an inwardly extending member on the other of said sections extending substantiallv the full length of the latter and forming a catch surface, a member supported on said first-referred to section and movable for releasably holding said push-button in she dlilrgction of trlnovemeitli of, Iand fby, against inward movement. sai pus utton, an rovi e wit a or wardly projecting por iion extending sub- JOHN- BINIHJEY' 5 stantially the full. length of said first-re- In presence offerred to section and adaptedto interlock GEORGE A. CLINTION, with said first-named member, and means L. Hmsmn. 

